End bender for wire drawing block



1967 (5.1... FISHER ETAL 3,299,683

END BENDER FOR WIRE DRAWING BLOCK Filed ow 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //VVE/V7'0R.S S: GERALD L. FISHER and RA YMO/VD A RS/MUSSEN Q J 5y A Home Jan. 24, 1967 FlsHER ETAL 3,299,683

END BENDER FOR WIRE DRAWING BLOCK Filed Oct. 27, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l S W "1| 1 I I l [9 /2/ i .//8 i l v 6 ix .9 l

V H I M2 lNVE/VTORS GERALD L. F/SHER and RAYMOND A. RASMUSSE/V Af/amey United States Patent 3,299,683 END BENDER FOR WIRE DRAWING BLOCK Gerald L. Fisher, Zion, and Raymond A. Rasmussen,

Waukegan, Ill., assignors to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 406,788 Claims. (Cl. 72-155) This invention relates especially to improvements in wire-drawing machine operation, wherein wire is drawn through a forming die by a rotating block of generally cylindrical shape, and is particularly concerned with conforming the tail end of the length of wire being drawn, to the curvature of the rotating block.

Patent No. 2,485,046 of Charles F. Glennon, dated October 18, 1949, relates to the same general problem.

The invention is concerned primarily with relatively heavy wire, such as that of /2-inch or l-inch diameter, for example, where the problem of the tail end whip of uncoiled wire is acute in modern high speed wire-drawing operations, and where tail-end scrapping costs become significant.

In the usual operation of a wire drawing block, the wire being drawn is coiled, under drawing tension, to the curvature of the block. However, there is necessarily some separation between the die and the block, which results in loss of winding tension, affecting the last section of wire, which may amount to a length of several feet, as the tail end of wire leaves the die. Unless means are provided to conform this trailing end to the block, the end whips around at high speed until the block has stopped, constituting a personnel safety hazard. Also, such uncoiled sections of wire must be cut off, for convenient handling and to meet customer requirements, resulting in scrapping the section removed.

Somewhat similarly to the aforementioned patent, the invention provides for holding wire bending means, such as a pair of rollers, for example, in position to conform the wire end to the block curvature. However, the structure of the invention provides means for firmly holding the rollers against the oncoming wire end, while at the same time permitting the employment of relatively low powered means for roller engagement and release. The latter feature, along with other advantages, facilitates operation of the mechanism by remote or automatic control, with attendant gain in personnel safety, and convenience.

These and other features of the invention will become apparent upon reference to the following description, relating to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the end bending apparatus in relation to a wire drawing block; and

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section of the apparatus taken on the line II--II of FIGURE 1.

With further reference to the drawings, the end bender of the invention is mounted on base plate 1, which is rigidly attached to the bed of an otherwise conventional wire drawing machine.

Bending rolls 2 and 3 of the end bender are mounted on pivot arm 4. The latter is attached to plate 1 by pivot pin 5, which is preferably located beyond the outer edge of flange 6; of conventional wire drawing block 6. The block is illustrated with a vertical axis, and as having wire W coiled thereabout. The block conventionally has a slight inward taper, from bottom to top, a matter of a few degrees, and the bending rolls preferably have a matching taper.

Pivot pin 7 attaches arm 4 to link 8, which in turn is attached by pivot pin 9 to link 10. The fixed end of link 10 is attached by pivot pin 11 to adjustable slide mechanism 12, the base of which is fastened to base plate 1.

Link 10, at a point proximate to pivot point 9, is attached by means of pivot pin 13 to rod 14, which is actuated by air cylinder 15, the latter being attached to base plate 1 by pivot pin 16.

Adjustable stop mechanism 17, the base of which is afiixed to base plate 1, is shown as bearing upon link 10, at a point on the side opposite the air cylinder linkage attachment.

With further reference to bending roll 2, it may be observed from FIGURE 2 that arm 4, which carries the roll, has threaded section 18, integrally attached thereto, which engages threaded bushing 19, surrounding the upper portion of shaft 20, about the lower end of which shaft, roll 2 rotates. Bushing 19 is engaged by lock nut 21, and shaft 20 has top and bottom assembly lock-up nuts 22.

Roll 3 is mounted similarly to roll 2, however, instead of being mounted directly upon arm 4 it is carried by arm 4a, which is adjustably attached to arm 4. Pivotal bolt 23 provides partial attachment of arm 4a to arm'4, and radial positioning of roller 3 assembly about bolt 23 is permitted by slot 24 in arm 4. Bolts 25, in conjunction with slot 26 in arm 4a secure arm 4a from radial movement, after adjustment, as well as providing additional means of attaching arms 4 and 4a.

The function of the mechanism of the invention is to properly position and brace bending rolls 2 and 3 against wire W, being coiled by rotating block 6.

With the block operating on vertical axis, as shown, the wire is usually coiled near the bottom of the block, adjacent to flange 6 Turns, as formed, are advanced upward by succeeding turns. Accordingly, to prevent the end of the wire from slipping out from under the rolls, causing scratched wire or improper bending, the bending rolls must be adjusted vertically so that they will be at the proper distance from the fillet at the bottom of the block, to retain the wire. As is apparent from the drawings, and the preceeding description, this adjustment is accomplished by rotation of bushing 19, with compensatory adjustment of lock nut 21. Protective sleeve S is removeable, to facilitate making this adjustment.

To accommodate roller 2 and 3 positions to particular block and wire radii, with a given size and pivot position of arm 4, arm 4a is radially adjusted about pivot bolt 23, in conjunction with related slot mechanism, to permit roll 3 to contact the wire properly when roll 2 is swung into wire contact.

Slide mechanism 12 is employed to move pivot pin 11 into such position that with pivot pins 7, 9, and 11 in a substantially straight line, the rolls are in position for end bending.

Stop mechanism 17 is adjusted to constrain links 8 and 10 in the aforementioned straight line, or to permit them to go slightly over-center, opposite the air cylinder mechanrsm.

Air cylinder 15 is positioned to cause hinging together of links 8 and 10, upon its retraction of rod 14. The positions assumed by the rolls, and other components, upon this retraction, are depicted in chain lines.

The aforementioned retraction by the air cylinder moves the rolls clear of the block, which is necessary when starting a new coil. When the drawing of a bundle of wire is finished, except for the last few feet, the end bender rolls are moved in against the wire on the block by action of the air cylinder.

The straight line, or slightly over-center position of links 8 and 10, with rolls in wire-end bending position, transfers the load from the air cylinder actuating means to the links, thus preventing overloading the air cylinder which would allow the rolls to move away from the wire, resulting in insufficient bending of the wire.

It will be apparent that actuators other than air cylinders may be employed, although the invention is particularly advantageous with their use. Also, the wire drawing block may be oriented other than vertically. These, and other modifications within the expected skill of the art, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A wire-end bending attachment for a wire-drawing block comprising means for contacting the wire to conform it to the periphery of the block, means for supporting said wire contacting means, said means comprising an arm pivoted to a rigid base, means for maintaining pressure on said arm, said means comprising a pair of links pivotally connected to permit a hinging movement thereof, the remote end of the first of which links being pivotally connected to said arm and the remote end of the second of which links being pivotally connected to a rigid base, said links being adapted to be brought into alignment, with their pivots in a generally straight line, to maintain pressure on said arm, means on one side of said links to stop hinging motion thereof in a position no more than slightly over center, and means for hingeably actuating said links to alternately maintain pressure on said arm and to release pressure thereon.

2. The assembly of claim 1 in which said actuating means comprises an air cylinder.

3. The assembly of claim 1 in which said second link is connected to said rigid base through an adjustable slide mechanism, adapted to provide lengthwise position adjustment of said links.

4. The assembly of claim-1 in which said wire contacting means comprises rolls with means for position adjustment along their axis.

5. The assembly of claim 1 in which said wire contacting means comprises a pair of rolls, at least one of which is provided with means for independent adjustment of position, perpendicularly to its axis, whereby both rolls are brought into wire contact position together. 1

No references cited.

20 ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner.

G. A. DOST, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A WIRE-END BENDING ATTACHMENT FOR A WIRE-DRAWING BLOCK COMPRISING MEANS FOR CONTACTING THE WIRE TO CONFORM IT TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE BLOCK, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID WIRE CONTACTING MEANS, SAID MEANS COMPRISING AN ARM PIVOTED TO A RIGID BASE, MEANS FOR MAINTAINING PRESSURE ON SAID ARM, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF LINKS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO PERMIT A HINGING MOVEMENT THEREOF, THE REMOTE END OF THE FIRST OF WHICH LINKS BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID ARM AND THE REMOTE END OF THE SECOND OF WHICH LINKS BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO A RIGID BASE, SAID LINKS BEING ADAPTED TO BE BROUGHT INTO ALIGNMENT, WITH THEIR PIVOTS IN A GENERALLY STRAIGHT LINE, TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON SAID ARM, MEANS ON ONE SIDE OF SAID LINKS TO STOP HINGING MOTION THEREOF IN A POSITION NO MORE THAN SLIGHTLY OVER CENTER, AND MEANS FOR HINGEABLY ACTUATING SAID LINKS TO ALTERNATELY MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON SAID ARM AND TO RELEASE PRESSURE THEREON. 